VERSES: Matthew 14:47-51
MEMORY VERSE: Matthew 14:47 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net..."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Review all 27 books of the New Testament. Perhaps, it would help to sing The Books Of The New Testament (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
PRAYER: Pray that we will live in a way that will be pleasing to God by obeying what we read. May we read the Bible every day.
SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Taught By Parable And Miracle (see March - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #4 on this blog. Click on orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below)
LESSON POINTS:
- Jesus told many parables to the people and to His disciples, among whom were Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Thomas, Matthew, Bartholomew, James the one they called the Less, Simon, Thaddeus, and Judas. They all listened very closely to His lessons.
- Jesus told His disciples that the kingdom of heaven, which is the church, was like a net that was thrown into the sea. Men stood on the shore and threw a huge net into the water. The net gathered all kinds of things, and when it was full, they pulled the net to the shore. Many things would be captured in the net, good things and bad things. Then, the men would sit down on the shore and pull out the good things and put them in vessels or hollow containers like bowls, baskets, or jars, but they would throw away the bad things.
- What does this parable mean? Jesus said that it would be just like that net at the end of the world. The angels would come and divide the wicked people from the just or righteous people, and the wicked would be thrown into a furnace of fire where there would be much sadness and pain. Jesus asked His disciples if they understood the things He was telling them and they said that they did. It was important to Jesus that His disciples understood what He was teaching.
- We need to be sure that we are the righteous or just people. How do we do that? We must always read the Bible and obey God's Word, even when it is hard to do or when it may be something we don't want to do. God's way is always the best way even when we stand alone. There are wonderful, beautiful rewards for those who obey God and are found faithful in the end.
- The Bible always says it like it is. Jesus said that the wicked would be thrown into a furnace of fire where there would be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 'Wailing' is a cry of grief or pain. Synonyms for wailing is weeping, sobbing, crying. 'Gnashing of teeth' is what people do when they are very angry or they are dismayed. Those are not happy thoughts, but Jesus told His disciples these things because He wanted them to know that all people would not go to heaven, that there would be a great division at the end of the world, and that the place where the wicked goes is a terrible place. He wanted everyone to obey God and spare themselves a terrible end.
- The beauties of heaven are not mentioned in these verses; however, by reading verses in Revelation, we know that heaven will be a place of rest and will be a very beautiful and lovely place to be. The book of Revelation is a highly figurative book, but by the simple words that are written, we know we would rather be with the righteous, than with the wicked. If time permits, read Revelation 7:9; 14:13; 21:10-27. Discuss.
ACTIVITY: Parable of the Net
Materials needed: 9" x 12" light blue construction paper, 3" x 12" dark blue construction paper, 5"x 12" light brown construction paper, scraps of orange and tan and black paper, crayons, glue, marker.
- Hand out light blue paper.
- Hand out dark blue paper.
- Tear a little off the top of the dark blue paper. This is the water.
- Glue dark blue paper in the middle of the light blue paper.
- Hand out light brown paper.
- Glue light brown paper to the bottom of the light blue paper, overlapping the dark blue paper.
- Hand out tan scraps of paper.
- Draw two men reaching with their hands. Nothing elaborate is necessary. Circles and rectangles will work!
- Cut and color the men.
- Glue one man on each side of the scene.
- Draw a large net between the two men. Connecting lines are good.
- Draw baskets on the left and right of each man.
- Write "KEEP" above the baskets by one man.
- Write "THROW AWAY" above the baskets by the other man.
- Color baskets.
- Write "The Parable Of The Net" and "Matthew 14:47-51" at the top of the light blue paper.
- Hand out orange paper.
- Cut out orange fish.
- Glue fish on net. Save one fish.
- Glue extra fish in the KEEP basket.
- Hand out small scrap of black paper.
- Cut tiny circles out of black paper. These are rocks.
- Glue rocks in basket on the other side of the page.